Alfred darling cushing



No. 619,143. Patented Feb. 7, |899. A. D. CUSHING.

LUCK.

(Application led Aug. 30, 1897. Renewed Sept 2, 189B.)

(No Modal.)

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

ALFRED DARLING CUSI-IING, OF VHEELING, VEST VIRGINIA.

LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,143, dated February7,1899.

Application filed August 30,1897. Renewed September 2, 1898. Serial No.690,147. (No model.)

hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

`and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in push-keylocks for boxes,drawers, and the like. The present loek has been devised especially foruse on mail-boxes, whereby the least possible time is required foropening the boxes and withdrawing the mail therefrom.

The invention involves the combination of one or more pivotedlocking-jaws adapted to be thrown apart for the purpose of unlocking,springs for normally holding the jaws in their locking position, and asuitable key for operating the jaws.

It also involves the combination of a pushkey having slots or notches inits stem and` swinging locking-jaws having projections extending acrossthe key-slot at all times and projections extending into the path of thekey when the jaws are open.

It also involves certain other combinations and arrangements of parts,as will be fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification I have illustratedas a preferred form of my invention a lock having four pairs oflocking-jaws, though it is obvious that only a single pair may beemployed if it is so desired.

Figure l is a sectional view taken through the face-plate and keeper ofthe lock, showing one pair of locking-jaws and the guideplate inelevation, the jaws being in closed or locked position. Fig. 2 is asimilar view of the lock, the key being in operative position and thejaws open. Fig. 3 is abackelevation of the lock. Fig. 4 is a frontelevation of the same with the boss removed. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionthrough the lock, showing a suitable key in elevation.

The operating parts of my lock are inclosed in a casing made up of theface-plate 1 and two interior side plates 2 2, secured thereto, and thehollow boss or projecting portion 3,

also suitably secured to the face-plate or made integral therewith. Theboss is suitably slotted for the admission of the key. The lockingportion of the lock, as illustrated7 consists of a series of pairs oflockingjaws, each pair independently operated, but the members of theseparate pairs being operated simultaneously. I have illustrated in thepresent case four pairs, though it is evident that I may use any number.These are shown at 4 1. The separate members of each pair arerespectively pivoted to shafts 5 and 6, passing through the side plates2 2 of the easing, on which shafts they are adapted to vibrate. Each ofthese lockingjaws has a projection 7 at its lower end, adapted to swinginto the path of the key when the lock is operated, and a hook-catch 8at its upper ends. The engaging faces of the hookcatches 8 are curved onan arc having the axes of the shafts 5 and 6 for their centers andinterlock with a keeper 9, having corresponding curves, as clearlyshown. The object of this form of hook and keeper is to insure thecomplete closure of the jaws when the door on which the lock is mountedis closed. With merely straight or angular hooks it is possible for thehooks to engage the keeper sufficiently' to hold the door closed withoutfully swinging into proper locked position, in which ease theprojections 7 on the outer ends of the jaws obstruct the entrance of thekey to the lock and cause delays. The interior pair of locking-jaws andtheir complements are respectively alike and the outer pairs and theircomplements are respectivelyl alike. These are made so for the purposeof having the lock symmetrical within and in order that a symmetricalkey may be employedthat is, a key that may be inserted into the lockwith either face up. This construction, however, is not essential and Ido not wish to confine myself to it. 10 is a guideplate pivoted to theshaft 6 and inserted between the interior pairs of locking-jaws, servingas a guide for the key. A shoulder or lip n: is formed on theguide-plate and upon one or both of the side plates, serving as a stopto limit the movement of the tumblers or locking-jaws and preventforcing said jaws beyond the elastic limit of their returningsprings, tothe injury of said springs. Each jaw or its complement is provided witha small IOO spring 1l, the free end of which rests against the fixed rod12 and serves to hold the separate pair of jaws normally in closed orlocked position.

- The inner faces of the separate members of the respective pairs oflocking-jaws have projections 13 and cut-away portions, as shown, thesaid projections of the one fitting the cutaway portions of the otherand extending into the path of the key. By this construction theoperation of the spring 11 on one jaw has the eect of keeping bothmembers of the pair normally closed, and the operation of the key on theother jaw has the effect of throwing open simultaneously both members ofa pair.

14 is the key, so shaped at'its end as to fit the interior conformationof the jaws and provided with slots 15 16 17, into which the lowerprojecting ends 7 of the locking-jaws fit when the jaws are thrown open.

The operation of .my lock is as follows: The gripping-jaws are keptnormally closed by means of the springs 11, and to throw them open it isnecessary to insert a key through the slot in the boss 3. Forwardpressure is applied, andthe end of the key operating against theprojections 13 the four pairs of jaws are thrown apart simultaneously.By releasing the pressure the jaws fall back again automatically totheir closedpositions. In inserting the key the guide-plate 10 its acorresponding slot in the key and guides the key the remainder of thedistance. As the jaws are moved by the pressure of the key` the lowerprojecting portions 7 swing around and project into the slots 1.5, 16,and 17 of' the key, passing partially or entirely through the same, andthereby prevent the use of an ordinary flat key for surreptitiouslyopening the lock.

1. A lock embracing the combination of a push-key having slots ornotches in its stem, a pair of swinging jaws having projectionsinterlocking with each other and extending across the path of the keyfor opening the jaws as the key is inserted and for closing the pair ofjaws by a single spring, and having projections which extend into thepath of the key when the jaws are open, and a stop to limit the movementof the jaws, substantially as described.

2. In a lock, the combination of a pushkey having slots or notches inits stem and a series of pairs of swinging jaws having projectionsextending across the path of the key for opening the jaws as the keyis'inserted and projections which extend into the path of the key whenthe jaws are open, and stops to limit the movement of the jaws,substantially as described.

3. In a lock, the combination with a casing made up of a face-plate,hollow boss thereon and two side plates secured thereto havingproject-ions extending into the boss to form key-guide hooks or catchesvat their upper ends, projections at their Alower ends extending downinto the hollow boss, and into the path of the key when the jaws areoperated, intermediate projections extending into the path of the key,and an operating-key provided with slots or notches in its stem,substantially as described.

4f. In a lock, the combination with a casing made up of a face-plate,hollow boss thereon and two side plates secured thereto, of a keeperhaving a curved hook-seat, 'lockingjaws having curved hooks or catchesat their upper ends, projections at their lower ends extending down intothe hollow boss and into the path of the key when the jaws are operated,intermediate projections extending into the path of the key, and anoperating-key provided with slots or notches in its stem, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED DARLING CUSHING. Witnesses:

V. D. STOCKBRIDGE, HUGH M. STERLING.

